Churkin: Yanukovych requests Russia to use armed forces to restore order in Ukraine

UNITED NATIONS, March 04. /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian authorities have received from Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych an appeal with a request to use the Russian armed forces for the restoration of the constitutional order in his country, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said at an open meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday.

“The Russian president has received the following appeal from Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych,” said the diplomat, quoting a letter in which the Ukrainian leader stated that the “events in the Maidan, the illegal seizure of power in Kiev have put Ukraine on the threshold of a civil war.” “In this connection I turn to Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin with a request to use the armed forces of the Russian Federation for the restoration of the rule of law, peace, law and order, stability and for the protection of the population of Ukraine,” Churkin read the letter, dated March 1.

After that he showed to the UN Security Council members a photocopy of the original of Yanukovych’s appeal. Concluding his speech, Churkin said that Russia’s actions in Ukraine were “fully adequate and legitimate.